THE "O" ANTIPHONS CONTINUE TONIGHT.

“The O Antiphons (also known as the Great Advent Antiphons or Great Os) are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers on the last seven days of Advent in Western Christian traditions. They likely date to sixth-century Italy, when Boethius refers to the text in The Consolation of Philosophy. They subsequently became one of the key musical features of the days leading up to Christmas.

The "O" Antiphon for December 19 is O Radix Jesse (O Radix Jesse).

December 19 is the birthday of Austrian-American conductor FRITZ REINER (1888-1963).

Reiner "was an American conductor of opera and symphonic music in the twentieth century. Hungarian born and trained, he emigrated to the United States in 1922, where he rose to prominence as a conductor with several orchestras. He reached the pinnacle of his career while music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s and early 1960s." (Wikipedia)

December 19 is the birthday of French chanteuse ÉDITH PIAF (1915-1963).

Piaf "was a French entertainer best known for performing songs in the cabaret and modern chanson genres. She is widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer and one of the most celebrated performers of the 20th century ... Having begun her career touring with her father at age fourteen, her fame increased during the German occupation of France and in 1945, Piaf's signature song, "La Vie en rose" ('life in pink') was published. She became France's most popular entertainer in the late 1940s, also touring Europe, South America and the United States, where her popularity led to eight appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show." (Wikipedia)

December 19 is the birthday of New Orleans singer and pianist PROFESSOR LONGHAIR (1918-1980).

"Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair or "Fess" for short, was an American singer and pianist who performed New Orleans blues. He was active in two distinct periods, first in the heyday of early rhythm and blues and later in the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970. His piano style has been described as "instantly recognizable, combining rumba, mambo, and calypso.'" (Wikipedia)

Happy Birthday, WILLIAM CHRISTIE!! The American-born French harpsichordist and conductor is 80 years old today. Salut!!! 🎂 🎉 🍾 🥂

In 1979, Christie founded Les Arts Florissants, named after the opera of the same name by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, which was to be its first fully staged production. Major recognition came in 1987 with the production of Lully's Atys at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. Christie has also presented and recorded many unknown works by Marc-Antoine Charpentier (most of them were world premieres)

Happy Birthday, MASAMI AKITA aka MERZBOW. The Japanese noise musician is 68 years old today.

Akita "listened to psychedelic music, progressive rock and later free jazz in his youth, all of which have influenced his noise. In 1972, he became the drummer of various high school bands, which he left due to the other members being 'grass-smoking Zappa freaks.' By this time, he and school friend Kiyoshi Mizutani had started playing improvised studio sessions that he described as 'long jam sessions along the lines of Ash Ra Tempel or Can but we didn't have any psychedelic taste.'

He later attended Tamagawa University to study fine art, at which he majored in painting and art theory. While at university, he became interested in the ideas of dada and surrealism and also studied Butoh dance. At Tamagawa, he learned of Kurt Schwitters' Merz, or art made from rubbish, including Schwitters' Merzbau (meaning Merz building, German pronunciation: [ˈmɛʁtsˌbaʊ̯]), which is the source of the name Merzbow." (Wikipedia)